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UN plea on global food crisis
Tuesday, 15 April, 2008
Man carrying sack of rice (Getty)
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has appealed for emergency and long-term action to tackle the growing global food crisis, which he fears could spark political upheaval and security risks.
"The rapidly escalating crisis of food availability around the world has reached emergency proportions," the Secretary-General told a joint meeting of key UN financial, economic and trade institutions.
"We need not only short-term emergency measures to meet urgent critical needs and avert starvation in many regions across the world, but also a significant increase in long-term productivity in food grain production," he said.
"The international community will also need to take urgent and concerted action in order to avert the larger political and security implications of this growing crisis."
Food security has become a major concern in recent weeks as supplies of basic commodities have dwindled in the face of soaring demand, triggering riots and outbreaks of violence from Haiti to Indonesia.
Mr Ban's plea came as the US announced US$200million (AU$216.31million) in emergency food aid.
Rising prices pushing people into poverty
"This additional food aid will address the impact of rising commodity prices on US emergency food aid programs, and be used to meet unanticipated food aid needs in Africa and elsewhere," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
On Monday, the World Bank today warned a doubling of food prices over the past three years could push 100 million people in developing countries further into poverty.
Bank president Robert Zoellick urged developed nations to step up and tackle the issue.
Mr Ban called for agreements on development financing, leading to more stable and predictable long-term resource flows to developing countries.
And he urged an increase in investment and technology transfer from donors to help the least developed countries broaden their exports.
Noting that climate change also threatens long-term global economic growth and sustainable development, Mr Ban said: "Developing countries need external assistance - especially better technology and increased financing - to rise to this challenge."
Source: SBS staff and agencies
"The rapidly escalating crisis of food availability around the world has reached emergency proportions," the Secretary-General told a joint meeting of key UN financial, economic and trade institutions.
"We need not only short-term emergency measures to meet urgent critical needs and avert starvation in many regions across the world, but also a significant increase in long-term productivity in food grain production," he said.
"The international community will also need to take urgent and concerted action in order to avert the larger political and security implications of this growing crisis."
Food security has become a major concern in recent weeks as supplies of basic commodities have dwindled in the face of soaring demand, triggering riots and outbreaks of violence from Haiti to Indonesia.
Mr Ban's plea came as the US announced US$200million (AU$216.31million) in emergency food aid.
Rising prices pushing people into poverty
"This additional food aid will address the impact of rising commodity prices on US emergency food aid programs, and be used to meet unanticipated food aid needs in Africa and elsewhere," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
On Monday, the World Bank today warned a doubling of food prices over the past three years could push 100 million people in developing countries further into poverty.
Bank president Robert Zoellick urged developed nations to step up and tackle the issue.
Mr Ban called for agreements on development financing, leading to more stable and predictable long-term resource flows to developing countries.
And he urged an increase in investment and technology transfer from donors to help the least developed countries broaden their exports.
Noting that climate change also threatens long-term global economic growth and sustainable development, Mr Ban said: "Developing countries need external assistance - especially better technology and increased financing - to rise to this challenge."
Source: SBS staff and agencies
